Pin-setting machine



April 20 1926.

J. W. BISHOP PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed Jul 10, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Eiif-fiil fi 5 .1123- m T NY April 20 1926.

J. W. BISHOP PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1.925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I I I L H l HHHl l lQH m IL l a April20,1926. 1,581,379 J. W. BISHOP PIN SETTING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 20, 1926. 3

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOSEPH W. BISHOP, MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK- BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

rm-sn'r'rme MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn W. BIsnoP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskego-n, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin-Setting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel and improved pin setting machine particularly of the hand operated type and has for its principal object to provide an improved device for discharging the bowling pins from the setter frame of such a machine.

In 'my co pending application Serial No 16,332, filed March 18, 1925, I have disclosed and claimed a setter frame comprising three horizontal decks. The top and bottom deck are joined together to operate in unison, whereas the intermediate deck is movable in respect to the top and bottom decks. A plurality of buckets is provided in the frame from which buckets the pins are released by the. relative movement between the decks.

- It is a specific object of my invention to provide improved means for causing the aforesaid relative movement and which shall operate independently of the alley bed, so that contact of any part of the setter frame with the alley-bed is not necessary for the operation of the device.

A further object of my invention'is to provide novel and improved means for retarding the upward movement of the'setter' frame to prevent injury thereto.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a catch to hold together the decks of the setter frame in such a position as tohold the pins therein, whereby the frame may be raised with the pins in vertical position therein. This arrangement is of particular value where it is desired to pick up the pins left standing on the alley bed after a spare, so that the dead wood may be removed, when the frame may be again lowered to replace the pins which were picked up. v

In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a selected embodiment of'my invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an alley bed showing my improved pin setting machine in place upon thebed.

Fig. 2 is a section on theline 2--2 of Fig. 1, but drawn to an enlarged scale.

portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, Y

2, 3 and 4 in the various positions which they take.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but showing a modification of my invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the catch for securing the decks of the setter frame together.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown at 1 an alley bed of any usual construction having mounted at the sides thereof a suitable support exemplified by the posts 2, one of which is placed on either side of the bed and which support cross bars 3 on which are mounted a plurality of brackets 4.

The setter frame designated generally at 5 comprises three horizontally disposed decks 6, 7 and 8. The top and bottom decks Y 6 and 8 are joined together to operate as one in the manner setforth in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 16,332. Vertical movement of the setter frame is insured by means of one or more guide rods 9, which areprovided with heads 10 and which slide withln guide tubes. 11, within which tubes the heads fit snugly. The upper ends of the guide tubes are preferably closed, as shown at 12 and the tubes provided with vents 13 and 13. The vent 13 is placed at the end of each tube while the vent 13' is disposed on the side of the tube. By this arrangement, the upward movement of the setter, under the influence of a counterbalance such a way as to prevent damage to the various parts of the mechanism. Upward movement of the setter frame may be caused in any desired manner, but I have indicated it in this application as being caused by means of connecting links 14 p'iyoted to-the intermediate deck 7 and also to levers 15, which levers are acted upon by springs contained in the cylinders 16. For further disclosure of this construction reference is made to my co-pending application Serial No. 40,727, filed July 1, 1925.

The setter frame may be lowered by means of a handle 17 havingarms 18 pivoted to ears 19 upon the support and which arms are pivoted by links 20 to the intermediate deck 7 of the frame. in practice ll use two arms 18 connected by the handle 17 and two links 20, but this number may obviously be modified-as desired. By means of the handle 17 the frame may be lowered from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4, and it will be obvious that the arrangement of the arms and links provides a toggle, which is straightened out when the frame is in its lowermost position, so as to make it easy to hold the frame in this position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 where parts not essential to an understanding of the operation of the invention are removed, it will be seen that each link 26 is provided with a rearwardly er. tending arm 21 having a pin 22 received within an elongated slot 23 in a link 2% pivoted to the lower deck 8. in Fig. 5 the parts are shown in the position which they occupy when the setter frame is raised. As

, the handle 17 is depressed, however, the intermediate deck 7 is/lowered and of course carries with it the top and bottom decks, the top deck being supported upon the intermediate deck, as set forth in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 16,332. During this lowering movement the pin 22 met es to the other end or the slot 23, to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, this position being reached when the frame is nearly in position to discharge the pins on the alley bed. Continued depression of the handle 17 will cause the pin 22 to exert a lifting force upon the link 24; and consequently upon the decks 6 and 8, in respect to the intermediate deck 7 and the arts will assume the position shown in Fig.

when the setter frame has reached its lowermost position. This position is shown in Fig. .4 as well as Fig. 7. Upon release of the handle 17 the'springs in the cylinder 16, or any other counterbalancing means which may be employed for the purpose, will cause the frame to rise and the parts will then resume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

' lit will be noted that the arrangement of the pin 22 in the slot 23 provides a lost motion connection between the handle 17 and the top and bottom decks of the frame, whereas 7 a positive connection between the handle an the intermediate deck 7 is had at all times, thereby making possible the lowering I position of the arts is shown in Fig. 8 and 1t will be seen t at 1 have replaced the link 24 with a link 25 pivoted to the arm 21 on a stationary pivot 26, instead of with a loose pivot as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This link is preferably in the form of a rod, which extends through one of the connecting plates 27 on the bottom deck 8 and is threaded to receive a nut 28 and a jam nut 29, by means of which a proper adjustment may be made of the relative movement between the decks. The operation of this modification is the same as that shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The intermediate position corresponding to that of Fig. 6 is shown in Fig. 9 wherein it will be seen that the lost motion has been taken up by the nut 28 being brought into engagement with the bottom of the plate 27. Then further depression of the handle 17 will cause the relative movementbetween the decks until they reach the position shown in Fig. 10.

As described in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 16,332 the intermediate deck 7 is provided with a plurality of shoes 30 by means of which the pins are graspedas theyare about to be placed upon the bed and are properly centered thereon. These shoes are normally released uponraising of the setter frame so as to leave the pins standing upon the bed. However, when a spare has been made, that is when certain pins have been knocked down and others remain standing and it is desired to remove the dead wood, which-is a term applied to the pins which have been knocked down, it is desirable to lift the standing pins from the alley bed and to replace them-thereon. For that purpose I provide means for securing the decks in the position shown in Figs.

. angle bar 35, forming a part of the intermediate deck 7. In order to move the detents 33 and 34.- into engagement with the bar 35, one end of the rod is continued upwardly as at 36 to form a handle whereby the detents may be brought into the position, shown in Figs. 7 and 10. When brought into this position and downward pressure upon the handle 17 is removed, the tendency of the decks 7 and 8 to separate will retain the detents in engagement with the'bar 35. Pressing down upon the handle 17 will permit the detents to be released and to insure this release I- provide a coil spring 37 tending to rotate the rod.31 in a direction to move the detents to the position shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9. .When the decks are secured together, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, the entire frame may be lifted by the handle 17 togetherwith any pins which may have been left standing upon the alley bed. When the'catch is in position to hold the decks together I find I that the frame will remain in its lowermost position until lifted by the handle. This is due to the fact that the spring or other counterbalancing device must, in its initial operation, lift not only the intermediate deck 7 against the action of the toggle formed by the arms and links, but must also lift the top and bottom decks. However, a very slight lifting movement on the handle is all that is necessary to start the frame in its upward movement.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a pin setting machine having a very simple and effective means for causing relative movement between the decks of the setter frame to dischaige the pins together with a catch which increases the field of usefulness of the machine by permitting it to be'u'sed for lifting and replacing pins remaining on the alley bed after a spare. Moreover, the provision of the vents in. the tops of the guide tubes provides a dash-pot arrangement which will permit rapid upward movement of the setter frame, but will brake or retard the same to prevent injury to the parts by too abrupt movements and stops.

I am aware that' changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing the'advantages of the invention and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims:

I claim: p

1. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising a pair of horizontally disposed decks, means for lowering said decks, and

means for causlng relative vertical movement betweensaid decks and comprising a lost motion connection.

2. .In a pm setting'machme, a setter frame comprising a pair of horizontally disposed decks, a handle having a positive connection with one of said decks and having a lost motion connection to the other of said decks to cause relative movement therebetween.

3. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame having a top and bottom deck moving in unison, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom deck and supporting said top deck, ahandle having a positive connection to said intermediate deck to lower the same and having a lost motion connection to said top and bottom decks, for the purposeset forth.

4. In a pin: setting machine, a setter frame comprising top and bottom decks sea cured together, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle having connections to said top and bottom decks and to said intermediate deck, said connections causing said decks to move in unison upon depression of said handle and to move relatively to each other upon further depression of said handle.

5. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising a top and bottom deck secured together,

an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle and connections between said handle and said decks causing said decks to be lowered in unison upon depression-of said handle to -a certain extent and causing said top and bottom decks to be lifted in respect to said intermediate deck upon further depression of said handle. 6. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising top and bottom decks secured together, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle connected tovsaid intermediate deck by a link, an arm on said link, and a connection between said arm and said top and bottom nection between said arm and saidto and bottom decks, for the purpose set fort 8. In a pin setting comprising top and bottom decks secured together, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle connected to said intermediate deck by a link conriection between said arm and said top and bottom decks, said lost motion connection comprisin a plate on said bottom deck, a rod pivote to said arm and passing through "said plate, and a nut threaded on machine, a setter frame 2 an arm on said link, and a lost'motion &

the end of said rod, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a pin settin machine, a setter frame comprising top an bottom decks secured together, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle connected to said intermediate deck by a link, an arm on said link, and a lost motion connection between said arm and said top and bottom decks, and means for adjusting said lost motion connection to vary the amount of relative movement between said decks, for the purpose set forth.

10. In a pm setting machine, a setter frame, means for raising and lowering said frame, means for guiding said frame in a vertical direction, and pneumatic means for retarding the upward movement of said frame.

11. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame, means for raising and lowering said frame, means for guiding said frame to move in a vertical direction and comprising a guide tube, a guide rod slidable in said tube and having a head thereon, the top of said guide tube being closed and having a vent therein.

12. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising top and bottom decks, an intermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, means for causing relative movement between said decks to place the pins carried by said frameand a catch to hold said decks in position to 'place said pins.

' 13in a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising a pair of horizontally disposed decks, a handle having a positive connection with one of said decks and having a lost motion connection to the other of said decks to cause relative movement therebetween, and means for adjusting said lost motion connection.

14. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame comprising top and bottom decks secured together, an mtermediate deck disposed between said top and bottom decks, a handle connected to said intermediate deck by a link, an arm on said link, a lost motion connection between said arm and said top and bottom decks, and means for adjusting said lost motion connection.

15. In a pin setting machine, a setter frame, means for raising and lowering said frame, means permitting free upward move ment of said frame to a certain point, and means for retarding said upward movement beyond said point.

16. In a pin setting machine, a setter' frame, means for raisin and lowering said frame, means for guiding said frame to move in a vertical direction and comprising a guide tube, a guide rod slidable in said tube and having a head thereon snugly fitting Within said tube, said tube having a vent in one side thereof, said vent being of a size to permit free escape of air therethrough, said tube having a second vent adjacent the end thereof, said second vent being of a size to permit gradual escape of air therethrough whereby upward movement of said head will be checked after it has passed said first named vent.

' OSEPH W. BISHOP. 

